Study: Five trends impacting retail sales

Instant delivery. Athleisure wear. Rented and used clothing.



These are among the five trends identified by consumer financial services company Synchrony Financial as impacting both the retail and mobile payments space.



Here’s a review of what Synchrony says consumers are especially interested in:



• Content Marketing: Over 40% of consumers said in a recent survey they like to shop at stores that reflect their values. With shoppers’ moral and emotional viewpoints in mind, retailers are tailoring their marketing efforts to convey a lifestyle or experience, rather than just sell a product.



People who believe in the brand message can help share excitement for the brand. Social media can also offer marketers the opportunity for free content advertising, which gains traction through sharing by people who believe in the brand message.



• Athleisure Wear: For many people, casual clothing designed for exercising and (almost) everything else has become the “new denim.” Some athleisure brands have surpassed sales of denim classics, and 80% of respondents in a recent survey by Crowdtap said they have worn “athleisure” clothing for occasions other than working out. Of these, 69% said they wear athleisure instead of jeans at least once a week.



• Instant Delivery: With apps providing amenities ranging from personal chauffeurs to doorstep delivery, retailers are going beyond free shipping and launching same-day delivery services. Some car services are even partnering with retailers to provide same day delivery of groceries, clothing and other goods. Many customers value convenience and instant gratification, and will pay to get it.



• Affordable High-End Fashion: To extend their reach, many retailers are fostering partnerships to provide accessibility to high fashion brands. Between mass merchant retail brands offering high fashion lines and low-cost retail brands collaborating with high fashion lines, these items are made available to a wider range of the income scale. Low-cost retailers house high fashion trends to satisfy the affluent customer on a bargain hunt, while high-end brand names offer lower-cost merchandise to attract customers at the big-box retailers.



• Rented/Used Apparel: Almost one-quarter (24%) of U.S. consumers in a recent Crowdtop survey said they have rented clothing, and one-third (34%) said they find the concept of renting appealing.



Retailers are able to reach a larger audience through this business model by allowing their customers to tap into trends and rent apparel for special events at a fraction of the purchase price. In addition to one-time rentals, there are retail apps that allow owners to trade used clothing or send in items they want to rent out. These companies collect and store items, and handle delivery and dry-cleaning, much like a traditional rental company.



Additionally, about 49% of the U.S. population state they have used a mobile wallet for their retail purchases. App-based payment solutions, mobile payments and the Internet of Things are resulting in consumers developing different expectations of their shopping experience, moving towards online and app-based payment solutions.